The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Spain is seeking the extradition of Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, the Egyptian man suspected of plotting the March 11 Madrid attacks, the New York Times reports. Ahmed, also known as "Mohamed the Egyptian", was arrested in Milan on Tuesday. He has taken credit for the Spain attacks which killed 191 people, according to Italy's anti terrorism unit which monitored his conversations. Further evidence indicates he boasted of planning a chemical attack against Americans.

And in Iraq, violence has erupted again in Najaf, ending a cease-fire negotiated less than one week earlier. Militia loyal to the rebel Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr seized a police station, set prisoners free, and allowed looters to destroy the building on Thursday, according to news reports. At least five people were killed and 29 were wounded. The attack casts doubt upon Iraq's ability to maintain control of its insurgents as the June 30th transition date approaches.

State Department warned white house two years ago about rejecting international rules on torture. (AP)

Army Withholds Chemical Attack Antidote

Army withholds antidote for terrorist chemical attacks from U.S. state, local emergency teams. (AP)

Spain

Spain to Seek Extradition of Bombing 'Mastermind'

Spain will seek the extradition from Italy of an Egyptian man suspected of planning the March 11 Madrid bomb attacks that killed 191 people, officials said on Friday. (Reuters)

Pakistan

Pakistan 'Raids Militant Bases'

The Pakistani army says it is engaged in a fresh offensive against suspected foreign militants in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border. (BBC)

Afghanistan

Taliban Deny Killing Chinese

The Taliban militia on Friday denied killing 11 Chinese workers in northeast Afghanistan, in the bloodiest attack on foreigners since their harsh five year rule was ended by US-led forces almost three years ago. (News 24)

Indonesia

Jakarta Rejects Assassin Threat

The Indonesian Government has cast doubt on media reports claiming Islamic militants are planning to assassinate Western ambassadors in Jakarta. (BBC)

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS

U.S.

U.S. Charges Australian Linked to al Qaeda

The Pentagon said Thursday that David Hicks, an Australian held at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be tried for alleged al Qaeda activities in Afghanistan. (AP)

Saudi Student Cleared of Terror Charges

A Saudi graduate student was acquitted Thursday of charges that he used his computer expertise to foster terrorism. (AP)

THE WAR IN IRAQ

U.S. Approved Use of Dogs
Handlers say they were ordered to use dogs to intimidate Iraqi prisoners. (Washington Post)

Pentagon to Broaden Its Abuse Inquiry
A four-star general is expected to take over to allow the questioning of high-ranking officers. (LA Times)

Iraqis are holding seven Turks hostage and demanding Turkish companies leave Iraq, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said yesterday as the first heavy fighting between Iraqi police and Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr's militia killed six people yesterday after a UN resolution failed to end diplomatic discord over Iraq or brewing ethnic tension in the country. (Arab News)

Thousands of Baathists Return to Civil Service

More than 12,000 former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party will be reintegrated into public service one year after losing their jobs under a policy to punish those loyal to the ousted regime, a senior official said yesterday. (AFP)

Rebel Cleric's Fighters Seize a Police Station in Najaf
Militiamen loyal to Moktada al-Sadr seized a police station in the center of Najaf, Iraq, set prisoners free and allowed looters to plunder the building. (NY Times)

Danes Probe Report of Prisoner Abuse

Denmark said Thursday that it has opened an investigation into claims by an interpreter for Danish and U.S. troops in Afghanistan that he witnessed incidents of torture and the killing of prisoners in American custody two years ago. (LA Times)

Pentagon Reinforces Policy for Reporting Deaths of Detainees

All deaths of detainees in U.S. military custody are to be reported immediately to criminal investigators under a policy announced by the Pentagon Thursday, following disclosures about lengthy delays in the military's response to prison fatalities, even those ruled homicides. (Washington Post)

Remote Facility Shows New Face of Iraq Prisons
Military personnel at Camp Bucca are making a concerted effort to improve the quality of life for detainees in Iraq following the prison abuse scandals at Abu Ghraib. (Washington Post)

Bush Doesn't Expect NATO to Provide Troops for Iraq
President Bush, however, continued to press for a more limited NATO role in training Iraqis to take on the burden of security in their own country. (NY Times)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

Justifying Torture Brings Shame To U.S.

The Bush administration assures the country, and the world, that it is complying with U.S. and international laws banning torture and maltreatment of prisoners. (Toronto Star)

Evolution of Debate

After the United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and began to capture members of al Qaeda and the Taliban government, U.S. officials debated whether to treat them as prisoners of war with full rights under international law. How the debate evolved: (USA Today)

Kurds Find U.S. Alliance Is Built on Shifting Sands

Before the war to oust Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration counted on the Kurdish minority in northern Iraq as its closest ally. But now ties with the Kurds have reached a bitter new phase, with some Kurdish leaders charging that they have been betrayed by Washington. (NY Times)

Fifth Version

The George W. Bush administration considered the majority consent of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the decision that transfers the authority to an interim government in Iraq at the end of this month, to be a victory; but is it truly so? (Al Hayat)

Sacrifice In the In-Box

The death notices from Iraq come across my computer screen by e-mail and always follow the same format. (Washington Post)

The Insider Daily Terrorism Report (DTR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to international terrorism and the war in Iraq. The DTR is edited from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman, and Brinda Adhikari of the ABCNEWS Investigative Unit. The outside views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.